Humidifier

ABSTRACT

In a humidifier the water flows in a water flow path over a humidifier element into a pivoted tray which controls the opening and closing of the water supply valve through a mechanical connection. One end of the tray is suspended by a thermal motor, specifically a bimetallic element, from the humidifier casing, the motor being operative when hot air flows in the casing to lift the tray end and thereby quickly cause opening of the valve and supply of water to the element.

United States Patent 1191 Winton Mar. 26, 1974 HUMIDIFIER 2,486,138 10/1949 Feinberg 261/39 R 6 l9 2 DI [76] Inventor: Gordm wimo! 369 Broadway 3 213 13; 3196? 2 367 14 Tillsonburg, Ontario, Canada 22 F] 0c 26 1971 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1 806,995 10/1936 France 261/39 R [21] Appl. No.: 192,427

Primary Examiner-Robert l-Ialper 52 us. c1 261/39, 261/DIG. 15, 261/106, Attorney R086 126/1 13 [51] Int. Cl B0lf 3/04 [57] ABSTRACT Fleld of Search R, In a humidifier the water flows a water f p h 126/113 106; 236/44 C over a humidifier element into a pivoted tray which controls the opening and closing of the water supply [56] References cued valve through a mechanical connection. One end of UNITED STATES PATENTS the tray is suspended by a thermal motor, specifically 2,308,922 1/1943 Hurst 261/39 R X a bimetallic element, from the humidifier casing, the 2,244,126 1 Smi h 126/113 motor being operative when hot air flows in the casing 2,305,660 9/ 1957 colelfloflm 126/113 to lift the tray end and thereby quickly cause opening 2,887,102 5/1959 Skerntt 126/113 of the valve and supply of water to the e]emem 3,169,704 2/1965 Domm 261/39 R UX 3,464,400 9/1969 Wellman 126/113 7 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure mgmgnmas I974 11799513 INVENTOR. GORDON R. WI NTON N 1- PATENT AGENT HUMIDIFIER FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention is concerned with improvements in or relating to humidifiers.

Description of the Prior Art Humidifiers intended to introduce moisture into a space that is heated by a forced air furnace are conveniently directly mounted on the furnace, or the immediately adjacent duct-work, so that the moisture is entrained in the air passing through the furnace and carried thereby to the space. The humidifier therefore usually is arranged to provide an air flow path or passage between the hot and cold air plenums, the air flowing in the said path under the positive pressure differential that exists between the two plenums whenever the fur nace is operating. In other forms of humidifier, such as the self-contained type intended for use in a space heated other than by forced air, the necessary flow of air in the flow path is created by a fan provided for that purpose.

One difficulty that has been experienced with such humidifiers hitherto, especially those intended for use in association with domestic furnaces, is to obtain the maximum evaporative capacity in a device that is as compact as possible. This involves maintaining the humidifier evaporator element, from which the water is evaporated by action of the air stream, as wet as possible for as long as possible during operation of the fan, while ensuring adequate and positive control of the water supply to prevent flooding and overflow from the element.

There is disclosed and claimed in my patent Ser. No. 3,512,763, a humidifier wherein a novel waterdelivering means is provided to assist in overcoming this difficulty.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a new humidifier.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new humidifier especially suited for operation in association with a furnace of the forced-air type.

It is a more specific object to provide a humidifier with a new control for the water flow therein.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a humidifier comprising a casing, an air inlet to the casing interior and an air outlet therefrom establishing between them an air flow path for the passage of heated air through the casing interior, water delivering means including valve means and for delivering water to the part of the casing interior that in operative position is the upper part thereof for the delivered water to flow downward in a water flow path in the casing interior, an evaporator member disposed within the casing interior in the air and water flow paths, means receiving water not evaporated by the evaporator member, means connecting the water receiving means and the valve means for opening the valve means when the quantity of water in the water receiving means is below a predetermined amount and for closing the valve means upon receipt of a predetermined quantity of water in the water receiving means, and a thermal motor mounted in the air flow path and also connected to the valve means, the motor being operative upon the flow of heated air in the air flow path to assist the opening of the valve means.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing the single FIGURE of which is a perspec' tive view of a particular preferred embodiment with parts of the side walls of the humidifier casing broken away, as necessary, to show the interior thereof, and with the humidifier element shown removed from the casing but with its position therein indicated by an outline in broken lines.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The embodiment to be described. in detail is intended to be used in association with a forced air furnace of conventional type (not illustrated) comprising a main casing with hot-air and cold-air plenums mounted thereon. In operation of the furnace a mixture of returned and outside air passes through the main casing under the action of a fan mounted thereon, is heated therein, and passes through the hot air plenum to the space to be heated. The humidifier comprises a rectangular-plan, rectangular-elevation casing having removable front and back walls 10 and 11, top and bottom walls 12 and 13, and end walls 14 and 15, the casing being mounted on the outside of and bridging the said furnace plenums, being fastened thereto as by screws. Openings 17 and 18 are provided respectively in the back wall 11 and the end wall 15, so that during operation of the furnace fan there is a flow of heated air through the casing in an air flow path from the opening 17 to the opening 18, as indicated by the arrows 19.

The water to be evaporated into the air stream by the humidifier enters via a control valve 20 mounted in the end wall 15 and passes through a throttlable valve constituted by a length of flexible tubing 22 mounted in a clip 23 attached to the top wall 12. The tube is open at its further end and may also be provided on its underside with a plurality of spaced downwardly facing openings (not illustrated), so that the water is discharged downwards onto an evaporator element 24 to be described in detail below. The setting of the valve 20 determined the maximum rate of flow of the water into the humidifier.

The evaporator element is in operative position mounted on an elongated tray comprising an outer member 25 and an inner member 26 mounted within and spaced from the outer member by its engagement with an inwardly extending lip of the latter. The tray extends nearly the full length of the casing and is rockably mounted on a pivot formed by cooperating members 27 and 28 fastened respectively to the underside of the tray and on the bottom casing wall. Water that is not evaporated by the evaporator accumulates in the tray and it will be seen therefore that the water flows in a flow path, indicated by arrows 29, that extends from the tube 22 to the tray 26 and intersects the air flow path; in this particular embodiment such intersection takes place substantially at right angles.

The water that accumulates in the tray causes it to rotate anti-clockwise as seen in FIG. 1, and such rotation causes a connecting push rod 30 at the tray end nearer to the pivot to move upwards and thereby rotate a channel member 31 anti-clockwise about its pivot 32 with another channel member 33 fastened to the underside of top wall 12. The flexible tube 22 passes through the passage formed by the two channel memhers, is engaged by a transverse squeezing member 34 carried by the movable member 31, and is progressively squeezed by the member as the evaporator 24 becomes saturated and thereafter as the tray fills with water, thereby throttling the flow of water therethrough. The tray end further from the pivot is suspended from the interior of the casing by a thermal motor which, in this particular embodiment, is constituted by a bimetallic element 35 generally of U-shape, but with a flat bottom and diverging side arms. The element is suspended from the upper wall 12 by a rod 36 screw-threaded into the element bottom and provided with a knob 37, so that rotation of the rod raises and lowers the motor for adjustment, as described below. The tray is in turn suspended from the ends of the element by tension springs 38. As the element is heated by the passage of hot air in the air flow path it flattens out, its ends moving in the directions indicated by the arrows 39, raising the attached end of the tray against the weight of the tray and the element and the water on the element and in the tray, so that the throttle valve formed by the tube 21, the channels 31 and 33 and the member 34 is opened.

With the thermal motor cool the valve is completely closed by a predetermined quantity of water in the tray. This quantity of water is adjusted to suit the particular installation, and particularly the pressure of the water supplied thereto, by adjustment of the vertical position on the element 35 by the knob 37 and, if necessary, by suitable choice of the tension springs 38. Another adjustment is by changing the effective length of the push rod 30, as by means of shim members that are mounted on the ends of reduced diameter.

When the fan operates water evaporates rapidly from the element 24 and the tray, the resulting decrease in weight causing the valve to open, so that water is delivered to the flow path. It may sometimes happen, especially if the furnace is operating at infrequent intervals, that the evaporator element is relatively dry, so that in the absence of the thermal motor of this invention there is little evaporation and the fan is operative for a relatively long period before there is a substantial flow of water and the humidifier becomes fully operative.

With a humidifier of the invention the thermal motor is operative almost immediately after the flow of hot air begins and opens the valve to deliver a large quantity of water directly to the element 24. The presence of the motor does not affect the normal operation of the humidifier, with the weight of the water on the element and in the tray controlling its flow in the water path. Upon operation of the fan ceasing the motor cools quickly causing a rapid effective increase in the weight of the tray beyond that normally required to close the valve, so that very positive closing of the valve is obtained.

Although the thermal-operated motor described is used to suspend the tray it will be apparent that the same advantageous effect can be obtained by a motor operative at the other end to push the tray end upwards. Other arrangements of thermal motor to achieve the required result will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Forms of thermal motor other than a bimetallic element, for example a bellows containing a readily-gasified liquid, can also be used.

The evaporator member 24 is in this embodiment constituted by two rectangular sheet-metal channel end frames 40 connected by a number of longitudinallyextending wires 41, so that the evaporator is also of generally rectangular form as seen in side elevation, the extent to which the element extends into the tray being determined by two cross-bars 42. The evaporator element proper comprises a sheet 43 of highly moistureabsorbent material, such as terry towelling, which is tightly stretched (at least when wetted) in a zig-zag manner over the wires 41, so that practically all of its surface extends transversely to and intersects the downward flow path of water from the tube, while at the same time it presents practically all of its surface area to the evaporative action of air flowing in the air flow path. A control of the evaporative capacity of the device is obtained in a simple manner by controlling the flow of air in the respective path. Such control is in this embodiment achieved by means of a slide 44 mounted for movement in guides (not seen), so that more or less of the opening 17 can be closed, the slide being movable by a rod 45 and its position being determined by a nut 46 on the end of the rod.

I claim:

1. A humidifier comprising a casing, an air inlet to the casing interior and an air outlet therefrom establishing between them an air flow path for the passage of heated air through the casing interior, water delivering means including valve means and for delivering water to the part of the casing interior that in operative position is the upper part thereof for the delivered water to flow downward in a water flow path in the casing interior, an evaporator member disposed within the casing interior in the air and water flow paths, means receiving water not evaporated by the evaporator member, means connecting the water receiving means and the valve means for opening the valve means when the quantity of water in the water receiving means is below a predetermined amount and for closing the valve means upon receipt of a predetermined quantity of water in the water receiving means, and a thermal motor suspended from the casing in the air flow path with the water receiving means connected in suspension thereto, the thermal motor being operative in response to the said flow of heated air to lift the waterreceiving means against the weight of the water therein to assist in the opening of the said valve means.

2. The invention as claimed in claim 1, wherein the thermal motor is a bimetallic element mechanically connected between the casing and the water receiving means, the said element deflecting in response to said flow of heated air to move the water-receiving means against the weight of the water therein to assist in the opening of the said valve means.

3. The invention as claimed in claim 1, wherein means suspending the thermal motor from the casing are adjustable vertically to adjust the vertical position of the motor and thereby adjust the extent of its effect when operative upon the weight of the water receiving means.

4. The invention as claimed in claim 1, wherein the water receiving means comprise an elongated tray disposed in the lower part of the container interior and pivoted on a pivot nearer to one end for rocking movement about the pivot, wherein there is provided mechanical coupling means connecting the tray end nearer to the said pivot with the valve means so as to be movable by the tray to close the valve means upon receipt of a predetermined quantity of water in the tray, and wherein the end of the tray further from the pivot is suspended from the thermal motor, the said tray end being lifted by the thermal motor upon operation thereof for rocking the tray in the direction to open the valve means.

5. The invention as claimed in claim 4, wherein the thermal motor is a bimetallic element suspended at its centre from the casing and having the said tray end suspended from its ends, the means suspending the element being adjustable vertically to adjust the vertical position of the element in the casing and thereby adjust the effect of its deflection upon the weight of the tray in operating the valve means.

6. The invention as claimed in claim 1, wherein the water receiving means comprise an elongated tray disposed in the lower part of the container interior and having the evaporator member mounted thereon, the tray being pivoted on a pivot nearer to one end for rocking movement about the pivot, wherein there is provided mechanical coupling means connecting the tray end nearer to the said pivot with the valve means so as to be movable by the tray to close the valve means upon receipt of a predetermined quantity of water in the tray, and wherein the end of the tray further from the pivot is suspended from the thermal motor so as to be lifted by the thermal motor upon operation thereof to rock the tray in the direction to open the valve means.

7. The invention as claimed in claim 6, wherein the thermal motor is a bimetallic element suspended at its centre from the casing and having the said tray end suspended from its ends, the means suspending the element being adjustable vertically to adjust the vertical position of the element in the casing and thereby adjust the effect of its deflection upon the weight of the tray in operating the valve means. 

1. A humidifier comprising a casing, an air inlet to the casing interior and an air outlet therefrom establishing between them an air flow path for the passage of heated air through the casing interior, water delivering means including valve means and for delivering water to the part of the casing interior that in operative position is the upper part thereof for the delivered water to flow downward in a water flow path in the casing interior, an evaporator member disposed within the casing interior in the air and water flow paths, means receiving water not evaporated by the evaporator member, means connecting the water receiving means and the valve means for opening the valve means when the quantity of water in the water receiving means is below a predetermined amount and for closing the valve means upon receipt of a predetermined quantity of water in the water receiving means, and a thermal motor suspended from the casing in the air flow path with the water receiving means connected in suspension thereto, the thermal motor being operative in response to the said flow of heated air to lift the water-receiving means against the weight of the water therein to assist in the opening of the said valve means.
 2. The invention as claimed in claim 1, wherein the thermal motor is a bimetallic element mechanically connected between the casing and the water receiving means, the said element deflecting in response to said flow of heated air to move the water-receiving means against the weight of the water therein to assist in the opening of the said valve means.
 3. The invention as claimed in claim 1, wherein means suspending the thermal motor from the casing are adjustable vertically to adjust the vertical position of the motor and thereby adjust the extent of its effect when operative upon the weight of the water receiving means.
 4. The invention as claimed in claim 1, wherein the water receiving means comprise an elongated tray disposed in the lower part of the container interior and pivoted on a pivot nearer to one end for rocking movement about the pivot, wherein there is provided mechanical coupling means connecting the tray end nearer to the said pivot with the valve means so as to be movable by the tray to close the valve means upon receipt of a predetermined quantity of water in the tray, and wherein the end of the tray further from the pivot is suspended from the thermal motor, the said tray end being lifted by the thermal motor upon operation thereof for rocking the tray in the direction to open the valve means.
 5. The invention as claimed in claim 4, wherein the thermal motor is a bimetallic element suspended at its centre from the casing and having the said tray end suspended from its ends, the means suspending the element being adjustable vertically to adjust the vertical position of the element in the casing and thereby adjust the effect of its deflection upon the weight of the tray in operating the valve means.
 6. The invention as claimed in claim 1, wherein the water receiving means comprise an elongated tray disposed in the lower part of the container interior and having the evaporator member mounted thereon, the tray being pivoted on a pivot nearer to one end for rocking movement about the pivot, wherein there is provided mechanical coupling means connecting the tray end nearer to the said pivot with the valve means so as to be movable by the tray to close the valve means upon receipt of a predetermined quantity of water in the tray, and wherein the end of the tray further from the pivot is suspended from the thermal motor so as to be lifted by the thermal motor upon operation thereof to rock the tray in the direction to open the valve means.
 7. The invenTion as claimed in claim 6, wherein the thermal motor is a bimetallic element suspended at its centre from the casing and having the said tray end suspended from its ends, the means suspending the element being adjustable vertically to adjust the vertical position of the element in the casing and thereby adjust the effect of its deflection upon the weight of the tray in operating the valve means. 